Andrew hit with ‘real blow’ as Met Police request surrender of firearms certificate

Officers from the Met’s firearms licensing unit arrived at the Berkshire property on Wednesday, November 19, to request that he voluntarily relinquish his certificate.

A source described the development as “a real blow to him”, noting that the keen huntsman had previously been a regular presence at upmarket shooting events.

According to the Met Police, the certificate was surrendered following their attendance, with a spokesman telling the Sun: “On Wednesday November 19, firearms licensing officers attended an address in Windsor to request that a man in his 60s voluntarily surrender his firearms and shotgun certificate. The certificate was surrendered, and we will not be commenting any further at this stage.”

GB News has contacted Buckingham Palace for comment.

Sources indicate that Andrew, believed to possess shotguns and rifles manufactured by James Purdey & Sons, initially sent a member of staff to speak with the visiting officers before agreeing to hand over his certificate.

While police are not thought to have confiscated weapons from the property, restrictions have reportedly been imposed on storage arrangements and access.

The former prince must now be accompanied whenever he uses or transports his shotguns.

A source claimed: “He will now not be able to do things like use guns on his own or even transport them unless he is under strict supervision.”

Gun licences are routinely reviewed by police forces, with officers able to act if the holder experiences a change in circumstances or if public safety concerns arise.

Successive Home Secretaries have urged police to apply increasingly rigorous checks to firearms and shotgun licence holders.

Tougher guidance introduced earlier this year expanded the use of personal references, integrity and honesty tests, social media checks and access to medical information, alongside higher application fees.

Under the updated framework, a new firearms certificate costs £198, while a shotgun certificate is priced at £194.

In August, former Reform MP and farmer Rupert Lowe had his gun collection returned after police seized the weapons during an earlier investigation.

The firearms were taken from his Cotswolds farm in March following an allegation that he had made threats towards Reform chairman Zia Yusuf, which Mr Lowe denied. No further action was ultimately taken.

The licence review involving Andrew occurred as the Met investigated claims that he had asked his police protection officer to obtain information about Virginia Giuffre, a victim of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell.

Allegations suggested Andrew provided the officer with Mrs Giuffre’s date of birth and social security number shortly before a photograph of them together was published in 2011.

The force announced a week ago that no further action would be taken after its investigation uncovered no “additional evidence of criminal acts or misconduct”, though it said it remains “committed to thoroughly assessing any new information” connected to the claims.

Andrew has never faced arrest and holds no criminal convictions, though sources indicated he underwent extensive questioning by officers. One source described the process as a “pretty thorough” grilling.

King Charles removed Andrew’s princely title in October, leaving him to be known simply as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, and announced that he would vacate the 30-room Royal Lodge.

He will relocate to a private property on the Sandringham Estate, with gun licence holders required to notify authorities about weapon storage at any new address.

Despite regular royal shooting weekends taking place in Windsor Great Park this winter, including one last Monday, Andrew has been absent from all such gatherings since losing his title.

He and his former wife, Sarah Ferguson, 66, who occupies a separate wing of the lodge, are thought to have been meeting periodically over meals to discuss their uncertain futures.